Mixing Pantheons

[ishysquishy]

I hope this is the right place to put this...

Currently I have 2 deities that seem to have taken a liking to me, so to speak - Odin and Nebt-Het.

Now, I'm not deliberately being eclectic, I didn't exactly choose Them myself.

Odin has been around for a few years. Not that He sticks around for long periods of time. Our relationship is as if He were a favourite uncle and I His niece. So He comes to visit every now and again, asks me to name my future daughters after Valkyries (I wonder if this is at all prophetic), helps me with rune casting, is generally good company.

Nebt-Het is very new on the scene, so I'm not sure where I stand with Her, yet. But I get the distinct feeling that she will be hanging around. I've been looking for Her for a long time, too, although until very recently I didn't realise it was Her I was looking for.

From what I can tell at present, They don't seem to object to each other. I don't forsee any problems either, but it's unfamiliar territory to me so I'm slightly uncomfortable.

So... I guess my question to you is whether this is an "OK" situation to be in and if anyone else had a similar experience?

(I realise that maybe I'm being a little insecure about it, but when it comes to deities I'm a little lacking in experience)

[RainInanna]

Ultimately I would say this is up to you and Them. Ask Them if they don't mind. Perhaps they won't want you to work with both, or perhaps they will tell you you can work with both but not at the same time or in the same place.

There are reasons some people would not work with both. Once I worked with Ancient Egyptian culture in depth I realized I could not work with the Netjer truly unless I reconstructed that culture and myth more fully. It just didn't make "sense" to work with Aset if I didn't do Egyptian ritual and study Egyptian culture. I couldn't understand her fully without immersing myself in the culture from which she came. Then again, there are those who work with Isis in modern Wiccan ritual, which works just fine for them and Isis.

To some people mixing pantheons is just an excuse to avoid serious research and devotion to either. To some, this is rather like a stranger walking in your house and demanding your mother cook them dinner. Certainly you would be offended in that situation and would want to defend your mom and your home.

Also, keep in mind that while these gods come from different pantheons, the associations may conflict. For example if two cultures clashed, it's possible their gods don't get along.

At any rate, I just wanted to explain some of the reasons you'll find that some people would have a problem with this. Personally I think it's up to you and your gods in the end - if they're happy, and you're happy, go with it.

[ishysquishy]

Thank you for your response, RainInanna!

As far as I know, the Germanic tribes didn't have much contact with Egypt, so it seems unlikely that They'll be at each other's throats. That is fortunate :)

My conscience is clear as this is all completely unintentional on my part, but I know a lot of people object to this kind of thing, and I'm not a fan of it myself, but here I am!

[Morgandria]

Honour them separately, when you call them in ritual. If you plan to call Odin, call him with an appropriate consort. The same with your Egyptian Lady. Keep a shrine to both of them separately. It's ok to honour both of them - as long as you're not trying to make them directly share space.

There shouldn't really be an issue, as long as you let them have their own space in your life.

[JadeNSC]

Honour them separately, when you call them in ritual. If you plan to call Odin, call him with an appropriate consort. The same with your Egyptian Lady. Keep a shrine to both of them separately. It's ok to honour both of them - as long as you're not trying to make them directly share space.

There shouldn't really be an issue, as long as you let them have their own space in your life.

I agree with this approach. Otherwise, trying to call both into a circle at the same time might be like a ritual equivalent of The Odd Couple. :lol:

[RainInanna]

My conscience is clear as this is all completely unintentional on my part, but I know a lot of people object to this kind of thing, and I'm not a fan of it myself, but here I am!

Isn't it funny when that happens? :) No matter what anyone else thinks, the Gods have it as they will.

[Kendrah]

There's nothing wrong with working with both of them but I'd keep them apart in your workings. If you need to work with Odin, work with him only. Same with Nebt-Het. I'd even ask them if they like their shrines in the same room or not. Otherwise, I don't see a problem with it at all.

[Meadhbh]

I agree that as long as you keep them apart their really shouldn't be a problem. I can't really see a reason why they would be in conflict with each other. The problem a lot of people get into when they start mixing pantheons is that they forget to look at the characters of the deities they are invoking. I know someone who attempted key word attempted to work with Mars and the Morrigan at the same time. Duck and cover is not a strong enough phrase.

[JadeNSC]

I agree that as long as you keep them apart their really shouldn't be a problem. I can't really see a reason why they would be in conflict with each other. The problem a lot of people get into when they start mixing pantheons is that they forget to look at the characters of the deities they are invoking. I know someone who attempted key word attempted to work with Mars and the Morrigan at the same time. Duck and cover is not a strong enough phrase.

:eyebrow: I bet the resulting explosion was spectacular...

[Romani Vixen]

What sort of context would you be honoring them in? Wicca? something different?

I'd say to keep them seperate. They are going to respond to different things.

Of course... it all comes down to what you and they are comfortable with.

[Mercedes]

I see absolutely no problem in mixing pantheons or revering two deities of different ones.

If neither has objected to the other's presence, then that's definitely a good sign. You may or may not want to have a whole altar/sacred space for both of Them...You could make two separate areas or whatever, if that makes you feel comfortable. Personally, I have a not-so-small altar in one corner of my room, and it's all-purpose as far as I'm concerned. The Gods and Goddesses that I've communed with have never objected to this, even when One is of a different pantheon than the rest (though my mixing of pantheons isn't as diverse as yours; mine are somewhat closely related).

If you're still wondering, I suggest you ask Them yourself.

[Shadowsong]

There is no problem I've found, just be honourable and respectful. I mean, the Morrighan and Djehuty...? Yeah. Most people seem to think there's something wrong but I don't really see why... if you're respectful to Them and listen if They say They want/don't want this or that, this altar this tool etc... you should be fine. :)

[ishysquishy]

What sort of context would you be honoring them in? Wicca? something different?

Something different, I guess. I don't really have a specific path right now, I suppose it will depend partly on what I find and Whoever else pops up.

I'm going to do some research in the way of Kemetic things so I can do it properly for Nebt-Het (whatever that entails).

[aluokaloo]

that is between you and the Gods, there is nothing wrong with mixing pantheonsIi follow Gods and Goddesses from Norse, Roman,Greek, Gaul,Hawaii,Etrus,Egyptian, and Baylonian pantheons., There are plenty of people here, who worship and honor deities from all over the globe, if you feel uncomfortable try looking into the mythology and culture.

[Morgandria]

I'm seeing here we have two different definitions of "mixing pantheons" ideas going on...

A) You worship deities from all over the place - meaning you don't work with one pantheon.

B) You worship deities from all over the place, and would call gods from different pantheons together in ritual.

This can cause some confusion.

Version A) of mixing pantheons is fine - honour the Divine in whatever culture you find it. You can work with as many, or as few, pantheons as you choose.

Version B) of mixing pantheons is not fine - the Deities involved may or may not particularily get along, the cultures may clash, and it's indicative of "plug and play" paganism - that you're using the deities as a means to an end, rather than honouring them. It's disrespectful, at best, and dangerous, at worst.

I hope this offers a bit of clarity, since I am assuming most of the people telling you to go ahead and "mix pantheons" are NOT telling you to call mixed pantheons in ritual. If they are...well, I would respectfully disagree.

[Ben Gruagach]

Here's my two cents' worth.

Historically deities from different cultures have been mixed quite frequently in both religious practice as well as within magickal practice. "The Greek Magical Papyri In Translation" edited by Hans Dieter Betz, which provides English translations of magickal spells, prayers, etc. that date back into the BCE times, give plenty of examples of deities from different cultures being named together in a spell or prayer.

We tend to look back on mythology from the past and assume that the deities that are grouped together have always been together -- this is incorrect to assume. What we see as "the Egyptian myths" for instance is actually a collection of many diverse myths, often with conflicts in the stories, that came from a diverse collection of peoples. If it's inherently wrong to mix pantheons then you'd think that people who follow the Egyptian myths (for instance) should be in serious trouble unless they are focussing on a small set of very specific deities and myths from a very distinct time period and place. Otherwise they are likely mixing pantheons even if they don't realize they are doing it.

Is there really such a thing as a "pure" mythology or religious system anyways? How many of these myths and ways of worship are genuinely unique and completely isolated from external influences? How many clans or tribes never met with outsiders or picked up ideas from foreigners?

[indigo rain]

What we see as "the Egyptian myths" for instance is actually a collection of many diverse myths, often with conflicts in the stories, that came from a diverse collection of peoples. If it's inherently wrong to mix pantheons then you'd think that people who follow the Egyptian myths (for instance) should be in serious trouble unless they are focussing on a small set of very specific deities and myths from a very distinct time period and place.

exactly, i was going to say the same thing. in the egyptian myths, there are actually several different groupings of deities that originated at different time periods and regions and have conflicting creation stories and other myths. but i work with deities from all of them, and have never experienced any problems. i see no difference in doing this and working with deities from completely different civilizations, as long as They seem to be fine with it.

[ishysquishy]

My only real issue with mixing pantheons is how complicated it makes things. I guess I do feel it's different if they're from roughly the same region, less of a culture clash. I didn't want to be unintentionally disrespectful to Anyone, especially if they are capable of smiting me :)

I suppose I'd better just get on with it!

[kaosxmage]

I couldn't really answer this any better than Ben did above.

I personally work with quite a rogues gallery of dieties: Isis, Anpu, Odin, Gwydion, Aine, Brighid, Branwen, Cthulian Nasties, Hern, to name my favorites. I've researched their cultures, and their myths in depth. It has always been my mission to understand the Gods as Gods rather than think of them as prisoners of their culture. I have never believed that a timeless being or force could be hung up on the culture that birthed them. Studying their birth cultures helps understand the origin (as we know it anyway) and their myths help as understand their nature. It is through intense personal journeys that what they mean to us at the present can be discovered.

These Gods at some point were just a local spirit or diety loved by a small tribe somewhere in the past. As people move and wars are fought there happens an intermingling of people and myths. The stories we are left to mill over are those left behind by the most powerful, the conquerors, and christian scribes looking to keep some of their own identity. How far back does one go to get the truth? Eventually we get back to being quivering scared souls in a cave when the thunder rolls. I'm in a no hurry for a neo-cavepaganism movement.

The moral of my story is this: work with the Gods you feel a connection with. Do what works for you. The Gods can handle your modern world and modern techniques. I'm certain of it.

Remember, your local police are armed and dangerous,
--Kaos